Obituary of Albert Bowlby

Albert Bowlby, 89, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family at Chilton Memorial Hospital, Pompton Plains, NJ, on January 17, 2011. Born: May 5, 1921 in Hampton, NJ, he was a son of the late Floyd and Anna Bowlby. Personal: Al was a lifelong resident of Hampton, having lived in the same house for most of his 89 years. Al retired as a Rural Postal Carrier for Hampton Borough. He was also Chairman of the Hampton Board of Health. . Al graduated from Hampton High school, class of 1941. He always joked that he graduated 5th in his class.of 5 students. Al served proudly in the US Army Air Corps as an airplane mechanic and instructor during World War II. Al was also very proud that he was a direct descendant of one of the area's earliest settlers, John Bowlby, who settled at Imlaydale, on the Musconetcong River, in the early 1700's. He loved life. He loved his family. He loved his Country and he loved Hampton. Memberships: He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Washington where he served as an Elder for the church and taught Sunday school. Al served as Councilman and served on the Hampton Board of Education for 21 years, including 6 years as president. He sat on the Board of Adjustment and Board of Health. Al was a charter member of the Hampton Rescue Squad and Hampton Recreation Association. He was a long time Member, President and Assistant Chief of the Hampton Fire Department. Al was a member of the Exempt Firemen's Association. Al has always been involved in youth activities, serving as Scoutmaster and working with learning disabled children and volunteering his time at the Hampton Public School as a teacher's aid. Through all this, Al's passion was baseball. In addition to having been a superb ballplayer himself, he was a Coach for the Hampton Little Bigger League, where, along with his good friend the late Ken "Tuck" Richards compiled winning records that still stand today. Al was an umpire for more than 30 years, taught umpiring, and served as president of the Northwest Jersey Umpires Association. He was widely known in the area for his superb coaching skills and his baseball knowledge and provided batting instruction to many a ballplayer. Al was also an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting but curiously, not fishing. He was a member of the NRA and was a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment. Al belonged to so many civic and community organizations that they are too numerous to mention. For all his dedication and service to the Borough of Hampton and surrounding communities Al was the recipient of the Presidential Award for Community Service, President Ronald Reagan commented that Albert Bowlby was the "ideal example of American Volunteerism". Survivors: a son, Paul Bowlby and his wife Ruth of Pompton Lakes, NJ; a brother, William Bowlby of Hampton; two granddaughters, Amy Lynn Rose and her husband Bill of Fair Lawn, NJ, Lauren Bowlby of Mahwah, NJ; two great-grandchildren, Jayden and Alyssa Rose. He was predeceased by his first wife Margaret in 1986, brother's Paul and Cornelius Bowlby, a sister Ruth Capizzi. A son Albert "Sandy" Bowlby in 1997, and his second wife Lillian in 2007. Services: Visitation will be Sunday January 23, 2011 , 2 to 6 p.m. Firemen's service will be held at 4 p.m. at the Warren Hills Memorial Home, 234 West Washington Ave., Washington, 07882. Funeral services will be Monday January 24, 2011 , at 11 a.m. with Pastor James Scovell officiating, at the First Presbyterian Church, 40 east Church Street, Washington, NJ 07882. Burial in the Musconetcong Valley Cemetery in Hampton. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, Hampton Recreation Association, PO Box 51, Hampton, NJ 08827. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Warren Hills Memorial Home, 234 W. Washington, Ave., Washington, NJ 07882.